Tag: talks

As soon as I start moaning that nothing is happening it all changes! Today I had an invitation to give a talk and the first proof of our poetry anthology. Plenty to do now!

Last night I went to a meeting of West Sussex Writers. The talk was by Paul Holden of the Worthing Journal and he gave an excellent description of his life as a journalist and how newspapers have declined over the last decade. When he left the local newspaper he started up his own monthly booklet which is full of local history and topical news, especially the political challenges that face our town today with the dearth of investigative journalists. Without people like him the public would not be aware of how their money was being spent and the choices the Council make and we certainly wouldn’t have newly painted bus shelters and attractive flower beds! It takes a great deal of research and a dogged determination to supply the locality with such an informative publication and Worthing is lucky to have someone like him to provide it.

There are other publications that continue to do the job that newspapers used to do but so few of us buy papers now that they will soon die out. Advertisements for houses and cars will not keep them going much longer as folk go on line for their news.

This afternoon I pick up my leaflets advertising talks. I am no longer depressed.

I feel I ought to be posting more creatively but seem to be marking time at present. The poetry anthology is with the printer, my new marketing leaflets are ready to be picked up tomorrow, I have entered two competitions and started another story. I don’t think it will be a novel, especially as it is rather controversial but I have wanted to set a tale in the local landmark, an old tower, for some time. It is in a private garden so I don’t have a photograph. I have been asked to do another reading in June and, hopefully my leaflets will bring in more invitations for talks. I didn’t get a new portrait done so the image is about six years old. I tried taking a selfie but it looked like a passport photo so I left the old one. Hubby was very sweet and said ” It’s still YOU”

I used a different image for the Sea scribes trifold which details all our books. That should be ready for our “Food for Thought” afternoon tea at the Ardington Hotel in Worthing on 27th March. I do wear spectacles but I usually take them off for a picture. I didn’t for that one and although it is old it looks more like me. I used to have it on my book marks but put cover images on more recently instead.

If I don’t get any good ideas soon I may even try to find old unfinished works. Not having a book on the go makes me depressed.

At last I have completed my talk on Sussex in Fiction. Of course there are many writers I have not included but I have a good mix of crime writers, historical writers and children’s writers. I nearly forgot Winnie the Pooh!

I only have one booking for this year so far and may have to go back onto twitter to let people know I am available.

Now I can start on the poetry anthology. I have about 15 poems, some of which have been on this blog and a friend has given me about ten more so I have been sorting them into sections. It’s funny how many we have both written about our gardens and nature. We had to buy a new bird feeder this week as the squirrel ( or a fox) had run off with the one that held the fat balls.

Instead of wasting time on twitter I am spending the rest of the day writing a new talk. Most local groups have now heard me speak on my life and works so I am creating a new talk on Sussex in Fiction. This gives me the opportunity to show the two different ways Sussex can be used in novels, either absolutely accurately, as in the books of Peter James, or as an inspiration as used by Simon Brett. The more I look into the writing of Sussex authors the more crime stories I find. Of course, there are also historical romances, like those of Pam Weaver. I have been buying books and taking some out of the library so that I can quote from each author. The most interesting part will be if the listeners can identify places that are not named in the books. It’s easy enough in my books when I don’t name the town but do say it has a pier, a hospital, a Leisure Centre and is near the Downs!

No more poems at present as I am researching Sussex Writers for my 2019 talks at Womens’ Institute meetings.

After talking for about two dozen times on my life and works I thought I should branch out and introduce people to other local writers, old and new but this involves reading about their lives as well as sampling their books so it is taking time. Thank goodness for the internet or it would be a much harder job.

My story for the competition has been posted and, as usual I thought of ways to improve it after it had gone. Never mind, it was a free one!

This weekend is all parties and Christmas lunches. It seems early. I haven’t done my Christmas shopping yet. The weather has been unpredictable so we are beginning to hibernate. I did buy a Christmas wreath for the front door but it isn’t up yet.

Not feeling poetic today but I did take a picture of the paella at the Worthing Food Fair today. We had some for lunch, with some local cider and wandered round the stalls selling food from all over the world. We brought back some baklava and had it with a cup of tea on our return. ( honey and almond)

I’m giving two talks next week and without a printer I’ll have to work from notes. I don’t often stick to the script anyway. This time it isn’t WI but a Parkinson’s group and a Church Fellowship Group. I think my stories should appeal to them and as the first talk is in Chichester I’m going to treat myself to a day out.